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We went to Santa Barbara, California to visit Louanne’s family. Nonni got a chance to see the baby in non-jet lag mode and everyone else got to meet Nadia for the first time. My mom and Brian had a little birthday party on Thursday night and I asked my mom for chocolate cake for Nadia and I. The photos above show the cakes and what Nadia thought of her first bite of chocolate cake- she actually spit it out which just made us all laugh. My mom made lasangna which was totally yummy and a good time was had by all.

 

The photo above was of Nadia at the beach on the west coast for the first time. I love that big toothy smile! We went down to the beach with my sister Michelle and Nadia was not too sure what she thought of the sand. She prefered to be held by one of us rather than be on the ground. The weather was perfect and the sky was clear. I was so excited that Michelle was able to drive down from Santa Clara and she even brought Nadia a cute little cranberry Santa Clara hoodie. Click on the photo above to see all the photos from the beach. Below is a great one of Michelle and I at the entrance to the Santa Barbara Harbor.

  

 The photo below shows a small sampling of the all the people that Nadia got to meet on the trip. Click the photo to see the slideshow from our Santa Barbara visit. Nadia got her first balloon from the waitress at Sambo’s. It’s the original Sambo’s restaurant and the location of my first job as a hostess at age 14. They have awesome pancakes and blueberry muffins, but I love the tuna melt. My mom took us all over Santa Barbara introducing Nadia to everyone from Lori in her office to the man who does her nails. She is a very excited Grandma

 

After the beach and a nap for Nadia…..Mike, Michelle, Nadia and I all went to the Pumpkin Patch at Lane Farms. They had a corn maze (a maize maze?) that we never found the end of, hay rides for the kids, a petting zoo and a big old horse with a sign that said not to feed him. Michelle found a nice pumpkin to put on her patio in Santa Clara and we picked up a couple mini pumpkins too.  Click the photo below for the whole slide show and I added a couple of my favorite shots.

 

 

 

We took Nadia to her 12 month check up and the doctor thinks that she is doing great. She is on target with all the developmental milestones and she is free to have all kinds of table food now. It’s going to be a whole new world for her as she has enjoyed what we have already been giving her including eggs, cheerios and macaroni and cheese. The doctor does want us to keep her on formula/rice cereal mix for another 3 months so that she can continue to get a lot of extra calories to keep gaining weight.

 Nadia gained 1 pound 10 ounces since her last check up and grew half an inch. She is now up 3 pounds 14 ounces since China and about 2 inches. On the American growth charts she is in the 5th percentile for weight and the 25th percentile for height. She is a tiny little thing, but healthy as can be and we are so blessed. This of course explains why she is still wearing 6-9 month clothes